94 SPRING-TIDE. 



couple of months in London, in the winter, 

 are sufficient for a man who really loves 

 the country. See, the storm is coming 

 over us. If you would avoid a wet skin, 

 you had better cross the bridge, and seek 

 shelter in the miller's house, which you will 

 find at the end of the lane. I shall fish 

 during the shower. 



J. As my coat is a light one, I shall 

 take your hint, and run on to the miller's ; 

 but, first, tell me the name of the bird run- 

 ning up that tree yonder. 



S. That bird is the wryneck, the herald 

 of the cuckoo in the spring, as the redwing 

 is of the woodcock in winter. You know 

 the rhyme : 



" The wryneck comes to stir our laughter, 

 And the cuckoo follows after/* 



We have a great variety of birds in this 

 district, and it is not surprising that they 

 should love such a neighbourhood. I can 

 easily imagine why birds haunt such scenes 



